• 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival announces the first round of US and international selections

    [caption id="attachment_1276" align="alignnone" width="560"]You Hurt My Feelings[/caption]

    The 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival will screen over 200 feature films, shorts, and music videos, representing more than 30 countries.  Returning to downtown Los Angeles, with its central hub at L.A. LIVE, the Festival will run from Thursday, June 16 to Sunday, June 26.

    The festival announced the first round of official US and international selections.

     

    Narrative Competition (10): The Narrative Competition is comprised of films made by talented emerging filmmakers that compete for the Filmmaker Award.  The winner is determined by a panel of jurors, and films in this section are also eligible for the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature.

    • The Bad Intentions, Rosario Garcia-Montero – Argentina/Germany/Peru – US PREMIERE
    • The Dynamiter, Matthew Gordon – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
    • Familiar Grounds, Stephane Lefleur – Canada – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
    • The Fatherless, Marie Kreutzer – Austria – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
    • How to Cheat, Amber Sealey – WORLD PREMIERE
    • Mamitas, Nicholas Ozeki – WORLD PREMIERE
    • An Ordinary Family, Mike Akel – WORLD PREMIERE
    • Please Do Not Disturb, Mohsen Abdolvahab – Iran – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
    • Sawdust City, David Nordstrom – WORLD PREMIERE
    • You Hurt My Feelings, Steve Collins – WORLD PREMIERE

     

    Documentary Competition (9): The Documentary Competition is comprised of films made by talented emerging filmmakers that compete for the Documentary Award.  The winner is determined by a panel of jurors, and films in this section are also eligible for the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature.

    • Cheonggyecheon Medley: A Dream of Iron, Kelvin Kyung Kun Park – South Korea – US PREMIERE
    • Family Instinct, Andris Gauja – Latvia – US PREMIERE
    • Once I Was a Champion, Gerard Roxburgh – WORLD PREMIERE
    • Paraiso For Sale, Anayansi Prado – WORLD PREMIERE
    • Salaam Dunk, David Fine – Iraq/USA – WORLD PREMIERE
    • Somewhere Between, Linda Goldstein Knowlton – US PREMIERE
    • Unfinished Spaces, Alysa Nahimas, Ben Murray  – WORLD PREMIERE
    • Unraveled, Marc H. Simon – US PREMIERE
    • Wish Me Away, Bobbie Birleffi, Beverly Kopf – WORLD PREMIERE

     

    International Showcase (18): The International Showcase highlights innovative independent narrative and documentary features from outside of the United States. Films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best International Feature, Best Narrative Feature, or Best Documentary Feature.

    • 108, Renate Costa – Spain/Paraguay
    • Christopher and His Kind, Geoffrey Sax – United Kingdom – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
    • Come Rain, Come Shine, Lee Yoon-ki – South Korea – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
    • Curling, Denis Côté – Canada
    • The Destiny of Lesser Animals, Deron Albright – Ghana/USA
    • Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Within, Jose Padilha – Brazil (New Video)
    • Eternity, Sivaroj Kongsakul – Thailand
    • Family Portrait in Black and White, Julia Ivanova – Canada
    • Kawasaki’s Rose, Jan Hrebejk – Czech Republic (Menemsha Films)
    • Love Crime, Alain Corneau – France (IFC Films)
    • Medianeras, Gustavo Taretto – Argentina/Germany/Spain (IFC Films) – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
    • Mysteries of Lisbon, Raúl Ruiz – Portugal (Music Box Films)
    • Ocaso, Theo Court – Chile – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
    • Position Among the Stars, Leonard Retel Helmrich – Netherlands
    • The Salesman, Sébastien Pilote – Canada
    • Self Made, Gillian Wearing – England
    • Senna, Asif Kapadia – England (PDA)
    • Tomboy, Céline Sciamma – France (Rocket Releasing) – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

     

    Summer Showcase (18): The Summer Showcase section offers an advance look at this summer’s most talked about independent film releases from the festival circuit. Films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best International Feature, Best Narrative Feature, or Best Documentary Feature.

    • Another Earth, Mike Cahill (Fox Searchlight)
    • Elevate, Anne Buford
    • The Future, Miranda July (Roadside Attractions)
    • The Guard, John Michael McDonagh – Ireland (Sony Pictures Classics)
    • Higher Ground, Vera Farmiga (Sony Pictures Classics)
    • Leave It on the Floor, Sheldon Larry – WORLD PREMIERE
    • Letters From the Big Man, Christopher Munch
    • L!fe Happens, Kat Coiro – WORLD PREMIERE
    • Natural Selection, Robbie Pickering
    • Page One: Inside the New York Times, Andrew Rossi (Magnolia Pictures/Participant Media)
    • The Pruitt-lgoe Myth, Chad Freidrichs
    • Renée, Eric Drath (ESPN Films)
    • Sex Crimes Unit, Lisa F. Jackson (HBO Films)
    • Skateistan: Four Wheels and a Board in Kabul, Kai Sehr
    • Terri, Azazel Jacobs (ATO)
    • Tyrannosaur, Paddy Considine – England (Strand Releasing)
    • Where Soldiers Come From, Heather Courtney
    • Winnie the Pooh, Stephen J. Anderson, Don Hall (Disney)

     

    Outdoor Screenings at the Ford Amphitheatre (3): These official Los Angeles Film Festival selections, sponsored by Brand X, are included as part of the 2011 Ford Amphitheatre Summer Season; a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County-based arts organizations. Films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best International Feature, Best Narrative Feature, or Best Documentary Feature.

    • Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest, Michael Rapaport
    • Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, Tsui Hark – Hong Kong
    • The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman, Ron & Russell Mael aka Sparks and Guy Maddin – WORLD MUSICAL PREMIERE

     

    International Spotlight – Cuba (4): This year, our International Spotlight focuses on Cuba, whose films rarely find distribution in the U.S.  We’re proud to showcase the best of the new and recent Cuban cinema.  Sponsored by the Department of Cultural Affairs and UCLA Latin American Institute.

    • · Habana Eva, Fina Torres – Cuba/France/Venezuela
    • · Operation Peter Pan: Flying Back to Cuba, Estela Bravo – Cuba
    • · Suite Habana (2003), Fernando Pérez – Cuba
    • · Ticket to Paradise, Gerardo Chijona Valdes – Cuba

     

    Documenting Mexico (2): Inspired by the efforts of the Ambulante Film Festival, a traveling film event designed to promote a documentary culture across Mexico, we are pleased to highlight two outstanding documentaries from Mexico’s vibrant documentary filmmaking culture.  Sponsored by HOY.

    • · The Night Watchman, Natalia Almada – Mexico
    • · The Tiniest Place, Tatiana Huezo – Mexico

     

    Community Screenings (7): These films will be presented free to the public. Films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best Narrative Feature or Best Documentary Feature.

    • The Bully Project, Lee Hirsch (The Weinstein Company)
    • Choose Your Own Movie – vote at LAFilmFest.com for this free outdoor screening
    • Crime After Crime, Yoav Potash – Grand Performances Screening
      • Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), John Hughes – 25th Anniversary Screening
      • Hot Coffee, Susan Saladoff (HBO Films)
      • On the Ice, Andrew Okpeaha MacLean – Project:Involve Screening
      • Project Nim, James Marsh – United Kingdom (Roadside Attractions)
        • Stand By Me (1986), Rob Reiner – 25th Anniversary Screening

     

    The Beyond (5): The Beyond offers films that dare to be different. Films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best International Feature, Best Narrative Feature, or Best Documentary Feature.

    • Entrance, Dallas Hallam, Patrick Horvath
    • Haunters, Kim Min-suk – South Korea – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
    • The Innkeepers, Ti West
    • Karate-Robo Zaborgar, Iguchi Noboru – Japan
    • The Yellow Sea, Na Hong-jin – South Korea

     

    Retro (2):

    • Boyz n the Hood (1991), John Singleton – 20th Anniversary Digitally Re-Mastered Screening with a Cast & Crew Reunion
    • Das Boot (1981), Wolfgang Peterson – Germany – 30th Anniversary Digitally Re-Mastered Screening

     

    The Film Foundation Screening Program (1):

    • Wild River (1960), Elia Kazan

     

    Short Films (41): Shorts are shown before features and as part of five short film programs. With their diverse and complex content, these films shine brilliantly. Most short films, domestic and international, will compete for prizes in Narrative, Documentary, and Animation/Experimental categories. The winner is determined by a panel of jurors. An Audience Award for Best Short Film is also presented.

    • Shorts Program 1-5

     

    Future Filmmakers Showcase: High School Shorts (33): These two programs of shorts are made by high school students from around the country, featuring work by the next generation of filmmakers.

    • Programs 1-2

     

    Music Videos (48): The Music Video Showcase consists of three programs. Our two Eclectic Mix programs are a visual mix tape of this year’s best independent music videos, with a few innovative major label artists thrown in for good measure. Music videos will compete for an Audience Award.

    • Eclectic Mix 1-2
    • Kewl Vids by Eric Wareheim

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  • 10th Annual Tribeca Film Festival Announces Attendance Numbers

    The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) numbers are in, and they reveal that more than 430,000 people attended screenings, panels, talks and free community events – including the opening night world premiere of Cameron Crowe’s The Union, the Tribeca Drive-In series, Street Fair and Family Festival, Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day, Tribeca Disruptive Innovation awards, and NYFest – during  the Festival’s 10th edition.

    Of all the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival Facts, Figures and anecdotes, the most interesting – On the day that World Narrative Competition entry Jesus Henry Christ had its world premiere, star Toni Collette gave birth to a healthy baby boy. The audience made a short video to congratulate the star and new mom.

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  • Maryland Film Festival 2011 Feature Local Docs THE LEARNING and CAFETERIA MAN

    [caption id="attachment_1272" align="alignnone" width="550"]THE LEARNING[/caption]

    Maryland Film Festival 2011 opens tomorrow, and among the many documentaries screening are two honing in on fascinating stories within the Baltimore school system.

    Imelda director Ramona Diaz’s THE LEARNING documents a year in the lives of four Filipino women recruited to work as teachers in the Baltimore school system; Richard Chisolm’s CAFETERIA MAN follows Tony Geraci as he attempts to revamp Baltimore’s school lunch program with an emphasis on fresh, healthy, local, and even student-grown ingredients.

    All of MFF’s 2011 features are now announced, including Closing Night (Sing Your Song, with Harry Belafonte attending!), Palme d’Or winner UNCLE BOONMEE, John Waters presenting DOMAINE, Kelly Reichardt’s MEEK’S CUTOFF, and Opening Night Shorts hosted by Ann Hornaday.

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  • ‘Queen of the Sun’ documentary opens in NY on June 10 and in LA on June 17

    QUEEN OF THE SUN: What Are the Bees Telling Us?, the award winning documentary by Taggart Siegel, (director of “The Real Dirt on Farmer John”).  QUEEN OF THE SUN will open at Cinema Village in New York on Friday, June 10, and at Laemmle Theaters in Los Angeles on Friday, June 17.  Many other cities will follow.

    QUEEN OF THE SUN is a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis. Taking us on a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the mysterious world of the beehive, this engaging and ultimately uplifting film weaves an unusual and dramatic story of the heartfelt struggles of beekeepers, scientists and philosophers from around the world including Michael Pollan, Gunther Hauk and Vandana Shiva. Together they reveal both the problems and solutions in restoring humanity’s age-long relationship with bees.

    Bees are the engines that keep the earth in bloom. In 1923, Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian scientist, philosopher and social innovator, predicted that in 80 to 100 years honeybees would collapse. Now, beekeepers around the United States and around the world are reporting an incredible loss of honeybees, a phenomenon deemed “Colony Collapse Disorder.” Bees are disappearing in mass numbers from their hives with no clear single explanation. The queen is there, honey is there, but the bees are gone.

    QUEEN OF THE SUN presents the bee crisis as a global wake-up call and illuminates a growing movement of beekeepers, community activists and scientists who are committed to renewing a culture in balance with nature.


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  • Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal’s new documentary opens to lukewarm Box Office

    Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal’s new documentary Exporting Raymond opened over the weekend and grossed an estimated $36,010 from 13 theaters in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and other markets for a location average of $2,770 reports THR.

    Directed by, written by and starring Phil Rosenthal, the synopsis: Phil Rosenthal created one of the most successful sitcoms of all-time, “Everybody Loves Raymond.” He was a bona-fide expert in his craft. And then…. the Russians called.

    In the hilarious EXPORTING RAYMOND, a genuine fish-out-of-water comedy that could only exist in real life, Phil travels to Russia to help adapt his beloved sitcom for Russian television. The Russians don’t share his tastes. They don’t seem to share his sense of humor. But what Phil did discover was a real comedy, filled with unique characters and situations that have to be seen to be believed. An audience award winner at multiple film festivals across the country, EXPORTING RAYMOND proves that even if you’ve never seen “Everybody Loves Raymond”, you’ll still enjoy this wildly entertaining film.

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  • Focus Features Grabs Wes Anderson’s new film ‘Moonrise Kingdom’

    Focus Features has acquired worldwide distribution rights to Moonrise Kingdom, the new feature from two-time Academy Award nominee Wes Anderson. Filming has begun, and Mr. Anderson is directing from an original screenplay that he wrote with Roman Coppola.

    Set on an island off the coast of New England in the 1960s, Moonrise Kingdom follows a young boy and girl falling in love. When they are moved to run away together, various factions of the town mobilize to search for them and the town is turned upside down – which might not be such a bad thing. Bruce Willis plays the town sheriff; two-time Academy Award nominee Edward Norton is cast as a camp leader; Academy Award nominee Bill Murray and Academy Award winner Frances McDormand portray the young girl’s parents; the cast also includes Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton and Jason Schwartzman. The young boy and girl are played by Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward.

     

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  • SNL’s Jason Sudeikis to host 2011 MTV Movie Awards

    [caption id="attachment_1264" align="alignnone" width="497"]Jason Sudeikis at 2009 NYTVF.jpg[/caption]

    “Saturday Night Live” star Jason Sudeikis has been selected as the host of the 2011 MTV Movie Awards taking place on June 5, 2011 at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, reports MTV.

    The MTV Movie Awards nominees — based on votes at MovieAwards.MTV.com — will be announced on May 3. Voting by the public will then determine the favorite films and stars in categories like Best Fight, Best Kiss, Biggest Badass Star, Best Villain and, of course, Best Movie. Voting will continue through June 4, though Best Movie will remain open throughout the live ceremony on June 5 — meaning viewers will have a chance to affect the night’s biggest prize until the very last minute.

    The 20th annual MTV Movie Awards air live Sunday, June 5, at 9 p.m. ET.

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  • 33 students selected as finalists in the 38th Annual Student Academy Awards

    33 students from 22 U.S. colleges and universities have been selected as finalists in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 38th Annual Student Academy Awards competition in each of four categories: Alternative, Animation, Documentary and Narrative.  The winning filmmakers will be brought to Los Angeles for a week of industry-related activities and social events that will culminate in the awards ceremony on Saturday, June 11, at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

    The finalists are (listed alphabetically by film title):

    Alternative
    “Bitter,” Vlad Korishev, the Art Institute of California – San Francisco
    “The Dust Machine,” Damon Mohl, University of Colorado, Boulder
    “The Vermeers,” Tal S. Shamir, The New School, New York
    “Unreal City,” Bryan Bykowicz, University of Michigan-Dearborn

    Animation
    “The Birds Upstairs,” Christopher Jarvis, New York University
    “Correspondence,” Zach Hyer, Pratt Institute, New York
    “Defective Detective,” Avner Geller and Stevie Lewis, Ringling College of Art and Design, Florida
    “Dragonboy,” Bernardo Warman, Academy of Art University, California
    “The Girl and the Fox,” Tyler Kupferer, Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia
    “Heart,” Erick Oh, University of California, Los Angeles
    “The Renter,” Jason Carpenter, California Institute of the Arts
    “Swing,” Yen-Ting Kuo, School of Visual Arts, New York
    “Treasure,” Chelsea Bartlett, Ringling College of Art and Design, Florida

    Documentary
    “After,” Jeremy Cohen, The New School, New York
    “Civil Indigent,” Nicholas Corrao and David Hafter, University of Florida
    “Feast & Sacrifice,” Clare Major, University of California, Berkeley
    “Imaginary Circumstances,” Anthony Weeks, Stanford University
    “Shape of the Shapeless,” Jayan Cherian, City College of New York
    “Sin Pais (Without Country),” Theo Rigby, Stanford University, California
    “This is Us: Video Stories from Senegalese Youth,” Jeremy Teicher, Dartmouth College
    “The Time Machine,” Mark Kendall, School of Visual Arts, New York
    “Vera Klement: Blunt Edge,” Wonjung Bae, Columbia College Chicago

    Narrative
    “The Candidate,” David Karlak, Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia
    “Fatakra,” Soham Mehta, University of Texas at Austin
    “Flagpole,” Matt Kazman, New York University
    “High Maintenance,” Shawn Wines, Columbia University
    “Le Jeu des Soldats,” Lorne Hiltser, American Film Institute, California
    “My First Claire,” Lou Howe, American Film Institute, California
    “Snovi,” Reshad Kulenovic, Boston University
    “Thief,” Julian Higgins, American Film Institute, California
    “The Wind Is Blowing on My Street,” Saba Riazi, New York University

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  • Twins Cities Film Fest Announces 2011 dates

    The 2nd annual Twin Cities Film Fest will be held September 20 to 25, 2011 at Kerasotes ShowPlace ICON at the West End. This year’s festival will feature 35 to 40 films ranging from Minnesota-made features to studio and independent films.

    Submissions are now being accepted.

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  • London Independent Film Festival Announces 2011 Awards; Being Sold Wins Grand Prize

    [caption id="attachment_1258" align="alignnone" width="560"]Christopher Dane in BEING SOLD[/caption]

    Director Phil Hawkins took the Grand Prize at the 8th London Independent Film Festival his feature film Being Sold. The dark comedy tells the story of a man who puts himself up for online auction and attracts a storm of media attention. Hawkins, whose debut feature The Butterfly Tattoo met with critical success in 2009, scooped the prize which includes a £50k post-production deal with LIFF sponsor Prime Focus London. Being Sold, which was shot for only £25k, also earned its star Christopher Dane LIFF’s best actor award.

    Dutch helmer Christianne van Wijk won LIFF’s Best Director award for her debut feature The Scandalous Four, a period drama of sexual tensions set in the 1800’s. The film also scored the festival’s Best LGBT Film Award.

    American Director Joan Sekler took the festival’s prize for Best Documentary for her coverage of striking miners in California in Locked Out. Actress Chloë Annett won the award for Best Actress for her title role in Leila.

    Director Richard Harrison of The Honey Killer, and Director Greg Hall of SSDD, took the festival’s awards for Best Micro-Budget, and Best No-Budget Features respectively. While Paul Tanter’s Jack Falls, and David M. Reynolds Zomblies took the festival prizes for Best Action Film and Best SCI-FI/Horror respectively.

    The 2011 festival jury was headed by actor Robert Carlyle and cinematographer Sean Bobbitt.

    Festival Director Erich Schultz said: “Another year of absolutely fantastic low-budget films from around the world. I’m certain we’ll be seeing many great things from these filmmakers in the very near future.”

    Hosted at several screening venues across London, the 2011 London Independent Film Festival screened over 70 films over 10 days.

    A full list of 2011 London Independent Film Festival winners:

    Best Film
    Phil Hawkins for BEING SOLD

    Best Action Film
    Paul Tanter for JACK FALLS

    Best Sci-Fi/Horror Feature
    David M Reynolds for ZOMBLIES

    Best LGBT Film
    Christianne van Wijk for THE SCANDALOUS FOUR

    Best Micro-Budget Feature
    Richard Harrison for THE HONEY KILLER

    Best Documentary
    Joan Sekler for LOCKED OUT

    Best No-Budget Feature
    Greg Hall for SSDD

    Best Director
    Christianne van Wijk for THE SCANDALOUS FOUR

    Best Actress
    Chloë Annett for LEILA

    Best Actor
    Christopher Dane for BEING SOLD

    Best Editing
    Eve Hazelton for ZOMBLIES

    Best Short (International)
    Alejandro Alvarez for DEEP SLEEP

    Best Short (UK)
    Jo Smyth WINTER IN THE GARDEN

    Best Short (animated)
    Rok Predin for WINTER POEM

    Best Short Documentary
    Zillah Bowes for SMALL PROTESTS

    Best Sci-Fi/Horror Short Film
    Matt Bloom for ENDLESS

    Best Music Video (UK)
    David Buchanan A CAT ONLINE

    Best Short Short
    Jessica Townsend for HUMANE RESOURCES

    Best Screenplay (International)
    Tim Lewis for STAR SPANGLED BANNER

    Best Screenplay (UK)
    Anis Prudiva for Mutte

    Best Sci-Fi / Horror Screenplay
    Paul Treader for THE HELL BUNNY

    Best Short Screenplay
    Linnette Brown for DEEP INSIDE

    Best Screenplay Pitch
    Rachel McIntyre for CONNECT THE DOTS

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  • The US Premiere of Battle For Brooklyn to open 2011 Brooklyn Film Festival

    The US Premiere of Battle For Brooklyn, a controversial look at the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn will be the opening film event of 2011 Brooklyn Film Festival on June 3rd at Brooklyn Heights Cinemas at 8pm. The film will be also shown as a part of the Rooftop Films Summer Series on June 9th in Fort Greene Park. Prior to both Brooklyn screenings, the documentary will have its world premiere at the Toronto HotDocs festival on April 30th in Toronto, Canada. 

    “We are extremely excited to be working with such strong Brooklyn institutions that have supported us for over a decade,” said Directors Suki Hawley and Michael Galinski.

    “After searching for more than five years, graphic designer Daniel Goldstein finds the perfect place to call home in Brooklyn. Within months of moving in, however, he discovers that a new arena for the New Jersey Nets is slated to be built where his condo stands. The densest real estate development plan in US history, the Atlantic Yards project seeks to replace the existing neighborhood businesses and residences with 16 skyscrapers and a sports complex. Daniel becomes a reluctant activist when the government begins using eminent domain to force locals out, handing their property over to a private developer. Determined to fight back, Daniel participates in demonstrations, organizes meetings and gives media interviews and tours—anything to save his neighborhood. Spanning seven years, Battle for Brooklyn is the infuriating story of a greedy corporate Goliath and the new American way: corruption, bulldozing and corporate interests over citizen rights.”-Toronto Hot Docs

    Brooklyn Film Festival has received over 2,400 films from 111 countries of which 1,200 are US productions. The competitive event will run from June 3rd through June 12th at indieScreen, a brand new venue in Williamsburg, and the Brooklyn Heights Cinemas. The festival will present 120 film premieres and each film will be shown twice. The full festival lineup will be announced in May 2011.

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  • The Audience Votes “Give Up Tomorrow” Best Film of 2011 Tribeca Film Festival

    And the votes are in. The 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) announced the documentary film ‘Give Up Tomorrow’ as the winner of the Heineken Audience Award. The film’s director, Michael Collins, will receive a cash prize of $25,000.

    Give Up Tomorrow which also received a Special Jury Mention in the World Documentary Competition at this year’s TFF reportedly played to rapturous response and standing ovations.  The film was also supported by the Tribeca Film Institute’s Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund, and the filmmaker is an alumnus of the Tribeca Film Institute’s Tribeca All Access program.

    The film tells the story of culinary student Paco Larrañaga, who, at 19 years old in 1997, was arrested for the kidnap, rape, and murder of two sisters on the provincial island of Cebu in the Philippines. Despite demonstrable evidence of his innocence, including 40 eyewitnesses and photographs placing him hundreds of miles from the scene, Paco’s legal ordeal was only just beginning. Dubbed the Philippines’ “trial of the century,” Paco’s ordeal became a galvanizing focal point in a far-reaching exposé of gross miscarriage of justice at the highest levels.

    Following the case and its aftermath for more than a decade, the film traces Paco’s story from the ethnic and class tensions at its roots, through a distracting thread of tabloid sensationalism, and ultimately to appeals and interventions from foreign governments and NGOs as the injustice of Paco’s situation becomes ever more stark and undeniable.

    “From the first standing ovation of Give Up Tomorrow at its premiere at the Festival it was clear that audiences were passionate about the portrayal of Paco Larrañaga’s unjust incarceration. We hope that the film will raise awareness of Paco’s plight and lead to his freedom,” said Nancy Schafer, Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Festival. “This film is remarkably well crafted and I hope this award brings it the additional visibility it deserves.”

    “Tribeca was there from the beginning. They really gave us the introduction to the film world,” said director Michael Collins. “This award gives us so much hope. Now I know that the film is going to be seen by a broader audience and I’m incredibly grateful.”

    Give Up Tomorrow will have its final screenings on Sunday, May 1 at 12 noon and 9 p.m. at Clearview Cinemas Chelsea, as will the rest of the films that won awards at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. Specific times for the other films are available on the Festival website.

     

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